Lieutenant General Aroldo Lázaro Sáenz was born in 1962 in Sidi Ifni, a former Spanish territory in North Africa. He joined the Spanish Army’s Military Academy in 1981 and was commissioned as a First Lieutenant in 1986, beginning his career as a platoon leader in the Spanish Legion.
Throughout his service in the land forces, he has held a broad range of command position in various units, from infantry platoon leader to brigade commander.
Promoted to Captain in 1990, he commanded a company in the Balearic Islands and later in the Spanish Legion. As a Major, he held several national and international positions, including in the Spanish Doctrine Command, NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Spain (NRDC-SP), and EUROFOR HQ in Florence, Italy. In 2008, as a Lieutenant Colonel, he returned to NRDC-SP to lead the Organization and Coordination Cell within the Directorate of Staff (DOS). In 2009, he was assigned to the 10th Spanish Mechanized Brigade as Chief of Staff.
COMEC
Commander of Eurocorps
Lieutenant General OF - 8
The Commanding General of EUROCORPS (COMEC) is a Lieutenant General (NATO 3 stars). The Deputy Commander (DCOM) is a Major General (NATO 2 stars). The staff is directed by the Chief of Staff (COS), a Major General (NATO 2 stars); assisted by three Deputy Chiefs of Staff (DCOS) for Operations (DCOS OPS), Support (DCOS SPT) and Plans (DCOS PLANS), who are Brigade General (NATO 1 star). These generals are part of the Command Group.
The Commanding General is directly supported by advisors: The Legal Advisor (LEGAD), the Political Advisor (POLAD), the Public Affairs Advisor (PAA), the Medical Advisor (MEDAD), the Gender Advisor (GENAD), the Air Representation (AREC) and the Navy Representation (NAVREP).
The Command Group, the advisors and the staff together form the Headquarters, whose primary role is to plan and conduct operations ranging from humanitarian aid and crisis response to the defence of member countries and the Alliance. In operations, the COMEC commands major subordinate units and controls land operations, supported by air, maritime and special forces. EUROCORPS Headquarters is sustained by a Multinational Command and Support Brigade (MNCS BDE).
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In Eurocorps key personnel rotates regularly and adapt the years for COMEC/nations. This system fosters multinational representation,
ensuring that each nation involved has the opportunity to contribute to decision-making and leadership. The rotation helps
promote fairness and inclusivity, allowing all member nations to have a stake in the organization’s direction, while
encouraging collaboration and diverse perspectives from all corners of the world.
COMEC ROTATION PLAN
BELGIUM
2021
POLAND
2023
SPAIN
2025
GERMANY
2028
FRANCE
2031
All the decisions are taken unanimously by the Framework Nations in the EUROCORPS Common Committee. The participation of Associated Nations in any EUROCORPS commitment shall be systematically submitted for approval to the authorities of each country.
Austrian, Belgian, French, German, Greek, Italian, Luxembourg, Polish, Romanian, Spanish and Turkish soldiers work all together in a true multinational spirit. This creates a true multicultural cooperation within the EUROCORPS.
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Editions' Common Committee
Chairman & specialists of every EC nations
Common Decision
In October 1991 the former French president, Francois Mitterand and the former German Chancelor Helmut Kohl agreed to strengthen the reconciliation between their two countries and to foster the idea of the common european defence.
A few months later, in May 1992, both countries set up a Franco-German Corps in Strasbourg – a unit which financing and commanding would be equally shared amongst the two countries.
The ideas laid down in the La Rochelle declaration, which is considered as the founding act of Eurocorps.
A couple of weeks later both countries agreed to open EUROCORPS to members of the western european Union.
1993 Belgium, 1994 Spain and 1996 Luxembourg joined Eurocorps as Framework Nations (FN).
The La Rochelle summit already included the conditions of a partnership with NATO, which was implemented shortly after through the SACEUR‘s agreement in Jan 1993. This agreement frames the employment, subordination of EC within NATO
and the missions EC could fulfill. As you can see, the duality of EC (for the EU and NATO) is part of its foundations.
1992
Signed in La Rochelle
Foundation of Duality
© Sud-Ouest
Around 20 years ago, on November 22th, 2004, the Treaty on the European Corps and the status of its Headquarters was signed in Brussels. Twelve years after Eurocorps had been founded, this treaty embodied the will of the then five Framework Nations (Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, and – Poland would join later, on December 20th, 2021) to establish an undisputed legal basis. As a result, Eurocorps became an entity in the category of sui generis legal objects, i.e. entities whose characteristics make them unique.
2004
Signed in Brussels
OWN
Unique Ecosystem
